Wheel cover



July 5, 1960 s. A. LYON WHEEL COVER Filed July 19, 1957 United States Patent genre 'covua George Albert Lyon, IQSSIW. Chicago El /(L, Detroit 2 8, Mich. Filed July 19; 1951, Ser; No.- 1572391 7 erasers? This invention relates generally to wheel structures and to methods or making same, and still more panicu any to a cover and handle gfipi structure and method of attaching the handle grips or. spoke simulating eteinents to the cover.

In the past there has been considerable demand for cover structures having radially extending; spoke simulating elements or handles. In the past'nr'os't of the cover structures having this type of construction have been highly involved ordinarily requiring a multi-part cover structure which on occasion has involved the use of three or more circular cover members. It will be appreciated that this type of cover construction is highly involved involving close tolerances between the parts and in addition is considerably more expensive to manufacture.

The present cover structure is believed to be considerably more advantageous than prior cover constructions of general type singe the components of the cover I may be more simply manufactured at a substantially reduced cost, and since the components of the cover may be assembled together much more readily.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide I a new and improved cover structure having ornamental' and utilitarian handle grips or spoke simulating elements. p

vStill anotherjobj'ect, of this invention is to provide a novel method of attaching handle grips to a wheel cover. 7 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide handle grips or spoke simulating elements which elements are engaged under resilient tension with the coyer and which may be readily assembled and removed from the same;

According to the general features of the present invensea there is provided in a wheel structue, a wheel including rim and body parts, a wheel cover structure for overlying disposition upon the wheel including a series of circumferentially spaced openings defined by edges, means cooperable with the structure for maintaining the same upon the wheel, handles c'ooper'able with the edge of the openings for facilitating assembly and removal of the structure with respect to the wheel, the handles each having a pivot, a cam, and a shoulder with the pivot being engaged against the edge and upon pressure beingapplied to the handle the cam also cooperating with the edge until the shoulder snaps over the edge and engages the cover thereby rnaintaining the handle under resilient tension with the cover.

According to'still other features of the present inventiii there is provided in a method of attaching handles to: a vehicle Wheel co erg the steps of fulcrum: fining an. end area of the gripping handle upon a limited area of the cover, applying pressure to the opposite end of thehandle causing another area of the handle to be cammed against another cover area, and setting up counter forces between the handle and the cover upon the opposite end'of the handle being moved to a predetermined pointlwhereby the tension betw en the gripping ice , a 2 handle and the'cover is retained despite the pressure against the oppositeend of the handle being released.

v Otherobjects and features of the present invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description" taken in connection with the accompanying single. sheet of drawings illustrating therein a single embodiment and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel structure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on the line H ll of Figure I looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

igure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1 lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows; and i Figure/, is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view in full and dotted lines showing the handles in pie liminary and intermediate positions with respect to the cover.

As shown on the drawings: ,I

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the wheel structure which wheel structure has a conventional wheel comprised of a body part 11 and a multi-flanged tire rim 12. The tire rim 12 supports a conventional tire structure 13 which may be either of the tube or tubeless type. and which is adapted to be inflated by inserting air in the valve stem. 14 shown in Figure 1. The body part and tire rim are suitably joined together jat 15 by means of welding and the like. The body part 11 is provided with a bolt-on flange 16 which flange has a series of apertures 17. The apertures 17 are adapted to be aligned with lugs positioned on the axle of a vehicle and then guide'd in assembly therewith with nuts (not shown) threaded onto the lugs to clamp the body part 11' to the axle. v p The tire rim 12 includes a generally radially and axially outwardly extending annular intermediate rim flange, 18 and a generally radially outwardly extending annular rim flange 19.

C'ooper'able with the above defined wheel is a novel cover structure 20 for overlying the wheel which cover structure includes a circular-cover member 21 and a series of circumferentially spaced spoke-simulating elements or handle grips 22. It will be noted the handle, grips are totally independent of one another except that they are allattached to the side wall area 25.

The circular cover memberil includes a central crown area 23 which is bounded' at, its outer periphery by an annular dished-portion 24' defined by opposed side wall areas 25 and 26. Disposed at the outer periphery or boundary of the dished. portion 24 is an annular margin 27.

The cover structure 20 may be provided with any suitablemeans for maintaining the cover structure in assembly with the vehicle wheel. Preferably, the cover is provided with some kind of snap-on, pry-oii type of retaining means. In the illustrated instance the cover margin 27 is turned under and formed into an annular resiliently deflectable cover flange structure as for self retaining cooperation with the intermediate rim flange 18. a r r The flange structure 28 includes a radial flange 2'? spaced axially inwardly of the cover margin 27 and which is adapted to be bottomed against the rim 12 at the function of thelflanges 18 and 19 to provide a rigid back-up. The flange 29 is connected to a generally radially and axially inwardly extending flange 30. The annular flange 30 is provided at circumferentially spaced intervals with generally wedge shaped axially inwardly extending flanges which are return bent providing generally radially and axially outwardly extending terminals 31 which terminals have edges 32 for edgewise biting engagement with the terminalrim flange 19.,

The dished coverf portion and more particularly the side wall area 25 is provided with circumferentially' spaced annular edge areas ortedges or seats' or. seat surfaces 33 whichare suitably cut out'of thisysid e wall area and which edges fortsea'ts define 6penings', .as illustrated, for the receipt of the spoke simulating elements 221' v t l along its length.- vThe'arms 22' include divergent-sides 34734 which arefconnected together at. one end by a base portion '35. As will be noted in Figure 3, the sides 3 4434 diverge generally axially inwardly with respect to the base portion 35.

The arms 22 are provided with a radially inner terminalfportion 36. QThe terminal portion, and vmore particularly, the sides .34 'are provided with a pivot comprising notched edges.37'37 which notched edges are 7 v I t edges 37 may be disengaged from the edge of the opening 33 and the arm 22 may be'pu'she'd radially inwar'dly 7 adapted to .interlockingly cooperate with the 'edge of the opening33. As is shown-in Figure 4, the notched edge 37' is fulcrurnmed upon the edge of the opening 33, J The terminal portion, and more particularly the base portion 35 of the terminal portion is provided with a radially inwardly axially outwardly flared cam surface 38 terminating in a shoulder 39. As will be appreci atedfrom Figure 4, the camsurface 38 is engageable against the edge of the opening as the notched edges'37 arejulcrumm'ed on the ,edge'of the opening upon, the

application of an axially inward force against the outer terminal of the armor handle grip 22. Upon the exer- Ttion of a predetermined force, the cam'su r'face is moved completely radially outwardlyof the opening 33 and handle elements 22 14. Thereafter, thecover is urged inwardly by: applying a force 'to' the cover through the handles 22 until the edges 32 engage nnder resilient tensionflwith respect to the intermediate rim flange 18 to secure the cover structure 20 in assembly with the tire rim 12. Re 7 movalof the cover structure 20 may be brought about by inserting a pry-off tool underneath the outer margin 27 of the'cover and uponltwistingof the pry-off tool l, the tension between-the edges-32 and the intermediate rim flange 18 may be relaxed, and anaxially outward' force 'may'be'ap'plied through the handles 22 to pull the cover off of the wheel. r y T 7 Should it be-desired to removeJoneor-more oi the a force may be applied to the 'ra dially outer end of the'handles 22 in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 until the shoulder 39 is caused to'be disengaged fromthe side wall area 25 at the periphery of the opening 33. At this point, the notched It be understood that modifications and variations maybe effected without departing from the scope 'o'f'the novel concepts of the present invention. f V

I claim as my invention: 1.1a a wheel structure; a

"body parts, a cover structure overlying the wheel and the shoulder 39 is engagedagainst the radially outer side' of'the side wall area 25 at the periphery of the opening 33. It will be appreciated that as the arm. is

fulcrummed upon the edge of the opening the cam, surface 38 is caused to resiliently deflect until the shoulder 1 ''It willbe further appreciated fromFigure 3 that 'as V the divergent sides are caused to be moved thr'ough-the 's'lightdegree'of resilient'tensiom This relationship allows a closer cooperationbetween the arms 22 and the sidewall area 25 and also aids in preventing thenotched edges 37 'from becoming disengaged from the edge of the opening 33 during the rotation of the wheel structure. 1 As is also most clearly shown in Figure 3, the arm 22 is provided with'laterally turned ears 40-'- 40lwhich constitute integral extensions of the sides 3434. Thesei ears serve al multiple purpose" in that they not only aid in preventing the notched edges 37 from becoming disengaged'from the edge of; the opening, but in addition,

' should the notched, edges 37 become disengaged from" means between the wheel and the cover structure for retaining the cover structure in assembly with the wheel,

said cover strueturetincluding-a wheel cover rnernber' and 7 means for assisting in the assembly and removal oi the wheel cover member upon the'wh'eel which means prises spaced handle elementsg'retaining means between each of said handle elements and said wheel cover mem- "39 is-permitted to snap free of the edge definingtthe ,opening 33 whereupon it bears against the radially outer side of the side wall'are'a 25. j Y

her with each of said handle elements in snap-on,-pull off assembly with the covermember and with each of said handle elements being totally independent of one another in .the assembly and removal of the elements from'the wheel," said cover member having spaced openings dea'ined by edges with eachof'said;edges'ccoperablefwith 7 one of saidhandle elements', said handle elements each having" a urshaped termiual'portionwith 'sidesfot the'. terminal havingnotchededges fulcrummed ion the edge:

of the opening, said 'U-shaped terminal portion having a bas e portion between the sides provided with a cam sur lface' "and, shoulder withfsaid. -cam surface 'cammingly engageable' against theedg'e'of theppening until the shoulder snapsovef-the edge ande'ngages the covermember'to maintain the terminal portion of the handle'elementin .the, edge of the opening or should the shoulder 39 become disengaged from'the side wall area 25 at the pe- "riphery of the opening 33, the arm or handle grip. 22

will not be lost during further rotation of the wheel 7 since these turned ears make it practically impossible i for the arm-22 to pass-radially outwardly through ,the

opening'33 inits entirety. lrh s ir one of. thef arms 22wbecomes disengaged with'respect to thejedgeof the opening, the willnot be-lqst and may be restored to its-original po'sition/ Thus if 'the nrera'nyarrsae To Ia'ssemble the cover" 'th respect to the wheela fter are 21,25, inseam wan ng 41 is aligne'd with respect a;

' 5 utilized, th arms, nm st be rse fradi lyibutwardly through the openings '33 in order fonthexarms to b a s mbl d wi h sa -1 e thearms 22 have all been' as seinbled with 'th'sidefwall I assembly withthecover'nnder resilient tensionfs'aidfsides of said U-shaped terminal portion provided with laterally gt urned ears'dispos'ed on opposite sides of said shoulder for engagementragainst the inner sidefof'the cover to V insure that the notchedcdgesdo not disengage tro'mthe edge oftheopeningI-during the rotation ot the wheel structure.

2; Ina 'wheel structure, awheel including 3 body parts, a wheel cover structure for overlying disposition upon the w-heelincluding a series oil circumferentially spaced generally radially outwardly facing openings defined by edges, means cooperalble with said structurefor maintainingthe'same upon the wheel, circurn-I ferentially. spaced gene'rallylradially outwardly extending lhandlescooperable with the edgejlof saidjopenings for iii- V "cilitating assembly and removal ofsthe structure with n pect to the wheel, said handles Ieach haviug a pivot,' af 5 cam, and a shoulder with said pivot being engaged against V the :edge andupon pressure Ebeing v applied to ,the handle the tcamlalso cooperating'" with theedge until the shoulder sn ps v t e edg 'a engages h ver t e b mai itai'ning tthe handle under resilient'tension with'the cover. t 93 111 a vehicle wheel eovjer strucmreg a wheeli cover e member having means tormaiirtaining the wheel'cover member upon a vehiclewheel; pivot means and-abutment means on said-cover member, and fsaid1cover 'memher 'havingla-second meanstonassisting'in the assembly and 7 wheel incl-uding'rim ad removal of the cover structure from the vehicle wheel comprising vcircumferentially spaced generally radially outwardly extending handle members, each of said handle members having retaining means generally at its radially inner end including a pivotal area inlcrummed on said pivot means, said retaining means also including a cam surface and a shoulder operable upon pivoting the handle member upon the pivot means causing the cam surface to be engaged against abutment means with the shoulder movable with the cam surface until the shoulder snaps behind the abutment means.

4. In a wheel structure, a wheel including rim and body parts, a cover structure overlying the wheel and means between the wheel and the cover structure tor retaining the cover structure in assembly with the wheel, said cover structure including a wheel cover member and means for assisting in the assembly and removal of the wheel cover member upon the ,wheel which means comprises spaced handle elements, retaining means between each of said handle elements and said wheel cover member with each of said handle elements in snap-on, pull ofi assembly with the cover member and with each of said handle elements being totally independent of one another in the assembly and removal of the elements from the wheel, said cover member having spaced openings defined by edges with each of said edges cooperable with one of said handle elements, said handle elements each having a U-shaped terminal portion with sides of the terminal having notched edges fulcr-ummed on the edge of the opening, said U-shaped terminal portion having a base portion between the sides provided with a cam surface and a shoulder with said cam surface cammingly engageable against the edge of the opening until the shoulder snaps overthe edge and engages the cover member .to maintain the terminal portion of the handle element in assembly with the cover under resilient tension.

5. In a wheel structure, a wheel including rim and body parts, a cover structure overlying the wheel and means between the wheel and the cover structure for retaining the cover structure in assembly with the wheel, said cover structure including a wheel cover member and means for assisting in the assembly and removal of the wheel cover member upon the wheel which means comprises spaced handle elements, retaining means be tween each of said handle elements and said wheel cover member with each of said handle elements in snap-on, pull-oil assembly with the cover member and with each of said handle elements being totally independent of one another in the assembly and removal of the elements irom the wheel, said cover member having spaced openings defined by edges with each of said edges cooperable with one of said handle elements, said handle elements each having a U-shaped terminal portion with sides of the terminal having notched edges tulcrummed on the edge of the opening, said U-shaped terminal portion having a base portion between the sides provided with a cam surface and a shoulder with said cam surface cammingly engageable against the edge of the opening until the shoulder snaps over the edge and engages the cover member to maintain the terminal portion of the handle element in assembly with the cover under resilient tension, said sides extending divergently relative to said base portion and having deflectible areas engageable under tension with the edge of the opening when the notched edges are engaged with the edge of the opening.

6. A cover structure for overlying a wheel with means thereon disposable between the wheel and the cover structure for retaining the cover structure in assembly with the wheel, said cover structure including a Wheel cover member and means for assisting in the assembly and removal of the wheel cover member upon the wheel which means comprises spaced handle elements, retaining means between each of said handle elements and said wheel cover member with each of said handle elements in snap-on, pull-ofii assembly with the cover member and with each of said handle elements being totally independent of one another in the assembly and removal of the elements from the wheel, said cover member having spaced openings defined by edges with each of said edges cooperable with one of said handle elements, said handle elements each having a U-shaped terminal portion with sides of the terminal having notched edges fulcrummed on the edge with which it cooperates, said U- shaped terminal portion having a base portion between the sides provided with a cam surface and a shoulder with said cam surface cammingly engageable against the edge of the opening until the shoulder snaps over the edge and engages the cover member to maintain the terminal portion of the handle element in assembly with the cover under resilient tension.

7. A cover structure for overlying a wheel with means thereon disposable between the wheel and the cover structure for retaining the cover structure in assembly with the wheel, said cover structure including a wheel cover member and means for assisting in the assembly and removal of the wheel cover member upon the wheel which means comprises spaced handle elements, retaining means between each of said handle elements and said wheel cover member with each of said handle elements in snap-on, pull-oil assembly with, the cover member and with each of said handle elements being totally independent of one another in the assembly and removal of the elements from the wheel, said cover member having spaced openings defined by edges with each of said edges cooperable with one of said handle elements, said handle elements each having a U-shaped terminal portion with sides of the terminal having notched edges fulcrummed on the edge with which it cooperates, said U-shaped terminal portion having a base portion between the sides provided with a cam surface and a shoulder with said cam surface cammingly engageable against the edge of the opening until the shoulder snaps over the edge and engages the cover member to maintain the terminal portion of the handle element in assembly with the cover under resilient tension, said sides extending divergently relative to said base portion and having deflectable areas engageable under tension with the edge of the opening when the notched edges are engaged with the edge of the opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,707 Horn July 8, 1941 2,518,942 Schmidt Aug. 15, 1950 2,598,169 Hubbell May 27, 1952 2,729,510 Lyon Jan. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,146,492 France May 20, 1957 

